easyHotel to open 4 hotels across Portugal
posted: Oct 26, 2007

In announcing their third major franchise deal in just four months, easyHotel.com took a significant step towards achieving its plan to become Europe’s leading ‘super budget’ hotel operator, following the signing of a Master Franchise Agreement with their Portuguese partners Best Ecran. The agreement will see the brand opening four ‘super budget’ hotels across Portugal over the next three years.

The Portuguese franchise deal comes just days and weeks after signing similar agreements with P_Orange GmbH who will open 3 hotels in Austria and with i.gen hotels who will open 10 hotels in Germany.

The agreement is the latest in a series of deals, currently under negotiation, which will see easyHotel.com operating in key European city destinations as part of its strategy to sign up 60 hotels in the next three years.

Lawrence Alexander CEO of easyHotel says, “We are delighted with this deal and to be working with such an experienced partner, one who really understands the Portuguese market. Signing this deal is a significant move for easyHotel and opens up the southern European market. Visitors heading to this region are well aware of the easy brand and many, whether business travelers or holiday-makers, would prefer to spend their money on discretionary purchases rather than on an expensive hotel room. This mindset creates significant market opportunity for investors seeking to regenerate tired properties.”

Talking about the development plans Joao Freitas, partner of Best Ecran says, “We are delighted to announce this agreement with easyHotel and our aim is to open 4 hotels across Portugal by 2010. This is a particularly exciting time for us and we believe that the easyHotel brand and concept have huge potential. We are looking forward to working with them to meet the rise in demand for good quality, consistent, value for money hotel accommodation in Portugal”

About easyHotel

Part of the easyGroup business owned by Stelios Haji-Ioannou, easyHotel relies entirely on web bookings to generate sales and already operates hotels in 3 London locations (Victoria, South Kensington and Earl’s Court), as well as Basel and Budapest. easyHotel Zurich will open in November 2007, followed by easyHotel Luton and easyHotel London Heathrow in early 2008.